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10 Best Campgrounds In The Tri-State Area

Escape from the city and refresh the senses with a little one-on-one time with nature. New York City is surrounded by some of the region's most beautiful natural resources, all within an hour or two by train or car. Be it beach, woods or whitewater rafting, your escape from New York is a lot closer than you think with the best campgrounds in the area.

Croton Point Park
Photo Credit: crotonpointpark.com

Croton Point Park
1A Croton Point Ave.
Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
(914) 862-5290
crotonpointpark.com

Prices: $30 per night tent sites with park pass/$50 without/$60 to $95 cabins per night with park pass/$80 to $125 without

For city slickers, Croton Point Park might be the most convenient camping option. Hop on Metro-North at Grand Central and take the train less than an hour to Croton-Harmon, which is about a half mile away from the park. Once there, enjoy swimming, hiking, picnicking and tours of the local wineries. Located on a peninsula in the Hudson River, Croton Point Park offers cabin and tent camping and plenty of activities for the whole family.

More: Best Camping Supply Stores In NYC

Black Bear Campground
Photo Credit: blackbearcampground.com

Black Bear Campground
197 Wheeler Rd.
Florida, NY 10921
(845) 651-7717
www.blackbearcampground.com

Prices: $360 weekly, $480 for pull-thru spaces

Skip pitching a tent and rent a cabin. Black Bear Campground in Orange County is the city's nearest full-service campground, located just one hour away. Each unit for rent comes with private toilets and showers, kitchenettes, TV, air conditioning and WiFi as well as a front porch, fire ring and picnic table. The campground offers mini-golf, swimming pool, playground, pool table, horseshoes, hiking trails, a fishing pond and an arcade.

Eastern LI Kampground
Photo Credit: easternlikampground.com

Eastern Long Island Kampgrounds
690 Queen St.
Greenport, NY 11944
(631) 477-0022
www.easternlikampground.com

Price: $50 no hookup/$60 water and electric/$70 water, electric and sewer

Within walking distance of Long Island Sound and its beautiful beaches and the village of Greenport, campers here may enjoy getting back to nature or spend a day shopping downtown. The campsite has a swimming pool and offers traditional activities as well as nearby canoe and boat rentals. Enjoy nearby walking tours, bike rentals, vineyards, Splish Splash water park and ferry service to Foxwoods Casino across the sound in Connecticut.

More: Best One-Tank Weekend Getaways Near NYC

Hither Hills State Park
Photo Credit: nysparks.com

Hither Hills State Park
164 Old Montauk Highway
Montauk, NY 11954
(631) 668-2554
www.nysparks.com

Out on the eastern tip of Long Island in Montauk, visitors to Hither Hills may combine a beach vacation with a traditional camping experience. There more than 150 campsites right on the beach, as well as walking dunes and woodlands. Sport fishing is available day and night with permits that can be obtained on site. Biking, horseback riding, horseshoes, volleyball and a playground are also available.

Campfire
Photo Credit: kittatinny.com

Kittatinny Campground
Barryville Base & Adventure Center
3854 Route 97
Barryville, NY 12719
(800) 356-2852
www.kittatinny.com

Price: $11 per campsite/$7 additional per prime site/$14 per person/$7.95 children 6 through 11/$8 visitors/free children younger than 6

Two hours outside of New York City, Kittatinny Campgrounds is the perfect getaway for those who enjoy canoeing, rafting, fishing and other water activities. The campground is located on 250 acres along the upper Delaware River with 350 campsites, in wooded and open, grassy areas. Fish in the stocked trout stream winding through the forest, where anglers may set up camp. Other amenities include a swimming pool, volleyball and badminton, horseshoes and an arcade.

More: Tri-State's 7 Best Weekend Getaways

Nickerson Beach

Smores
(credit: Stock Photo/ClipArt)

880 Lido Blvd
Lido Beach, NY
516-571-7724
nassaucountyny.gov

What could be better than staying at the campground at Long Island's Nickerson Beach, where you can—at least temporarily—have the beach as your backyard? In addition to the 3,500 feet of shoreline, the site has space for up to eight tents and 74 RVs.

Buena Vista Camping Grounds

Buena Vista
(credit: Buena Vista Camping Grounds)

775 Harding Highway
Buena, NJ
856-697-5555
bvcp.com

Located close to Atlantic City, use the money you saved on not staying at a hotel at the casinos. Buena Vista is also pet-friendly and has two pools, a beach, waterslide, mini golf, movie theater, two arcades and plenty of athletic activities fun for the entire family.

Seaport RV Resort

Seaport RV Resort
(credit: Seaport RV Resort)

45 Campground Rd
Old Mystic ,CT
860-536-4044
seaportcampground.com

Enjoy the beautiful Connecticut Coast from the comfort of your own RV and stop at the Seaport RV Resort in Old Mystic. There are special events planned for every weekend, in addition to the local attractions like the Mystic Aquarium for kids and Foxwoods for adults. Don't feel like traveling too far? There are also plenty of amenities and activities on ground.

Lake Laurie RV Resort

Lake Laurie
(credit: STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

669 Route 9
Cape May, NJ
609-884-3567
lakelaurie.com

Enjoy the Jersey Shore for all its natural beauty at Lake Laurie RV Resort. In addition to the special weekend events, there are a ton of attractions to do on the grounds. Not to mention, all the attractions at the Jersey Shore! Try bird watching—in the past, Cape May has hosted the World Series of Birdwatching!

Michael Browne is a freelance writer and editor based in New York City, specializing in travel and the hospitality industry. Browne is the former managing editor of Travel Agent magazine. His work can be found on Examiner.com.


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